Tag: Jorge Cortes

Several moves, shuffling personnel around:

RHP Joe Martinez, who came to the Pirates from the Giants (with John Bowker) in July, was removed from the Pirates' 40-man roster and designated for assignment.  That frees up a roster spot for newly signed starter Kevin Correia.  Martinez joined the Indy Indians after coming to the Pirate organization, and made 4 starts and 3 relief appearances for the Indians.  In 28 innings, he earned a 1-2 record and a 5.72 ERA.  Then he pitched 8.2 innings over 5 games for the Pirates, for a 3.12 ERA.  

Spring Training invitations for the big league camp were extended to pitchers Rudy Owens and Justin Wilson, both of whom pitched in Altoona in 2010.  Tyler Yates, working his way back from elbow surgery, was signed to a minor league contract and also invited to major league spring training. Infielder Jeff Clement was also invited to big league camp.   

The Pirates have announced the new managers for their minor league teams:  Dean Treanor, who was the pitching coach in Indianapolis in 2010, will now be managing the Indians.  Frank Kremblas, who has managed in Indianapolis for two years, will move into the role of minor league field/instructional coordinator.  PJ Forbes, who managed the Bradenton Marauders in 2010, will manage the Altoona Curve in 2011.  Carlos Garcia will move from coaching first base for the Pirates to managing the Marauders.  Gary Robinson is moving up from managing the State College Spikes to managing the West Virginia Power, and Dave Turgeon, former coach at Virginia Tech, will become the manager at State College.   

And, some winter league action for some Pirates' players and friends:

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Gigantes de Carolina  4,  Indios de Mayaguez  2  --  For the second night in a row, Benji Gonzalez came into the game as a pinch-hitter for Los Gigantes, then remained in the game on defense.  Gonzalez flied out in the top of the 6th, then played second base for one inning, and shortstop for 3 innings.  He also grounded out in the 9th.  Los Gigantes scored one run in the 2nd, 2 in the 4th, and one more in the 5th, while a triple and a double contributed to Los Indios' 2 runs in the 7th.

Criollos de Caguas  7,  Senadores de San Juan  2  --  Former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa had another big night, going 4-for-5 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 4 RBI.  Figueroa flied out in the bottom of the 1st, and that was the only time he was retired.  His ground-rule double drive in Los Criollos' first run in the 3rd.  He doubled again (the conventional way) in the 4th, driving in 2 of that inning's 3 runs.  Then he homered to lead off the bottom of the 6th.  He also doubled in the 8th, but was left on base.  Los Criollos scored 2 runs in the 5th, without Figueroa's help:  three walks, including one by 3B Ramon Vazquez,  loaded the bases, then a double brought in two runs.  Vazquez also walked in the 2nd inning, but did not score.

Shortstop signings:  Former Pirate Brian Bixler has signed a minor league contract with the Nationals, and will likely be back to face the Indy Indians as a member of the Syracuse Chiefs.  Former Pirate Argenis Diaz, who was not offered a contract by the Pirates after this season, has signed a minor league contract with the Tigers.  We will likely see him again as a member of the Toledo Mudhens.

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Tuesday's winter league action: 

DOMINICAN LEAGUE   -- Final regular season games
Leones del Escogido  6,  Toros del Este  2  --  Los Leones' 4-run 6th inning gave them plenty of offense.  Los Toros were held to just 4 hits, with only one hit over the first 6 innings.  They scored one run in the 7th on a triple and a sacrifice fly, and one in the 9th on a single, a double, and an RBI ground out.  SS Pedro Ciriaco struck out in all three of his at-bats and also committed a fielding error which led to a run in the 4th.  


PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Gigantes de Carolina  5,  Senadores  de San Juan  4  -- Benji Gonzalez got into a game for Los Gigantes for the first time in over a month.  He entered the game in the top of the 8th to pinch-run after a double.  A fly out moved him to third base, but he was left there when the inning ended.  Then Gonzalez remained in the game to play second base, where he made 2 plays.  Los Senadores scored 3 runs in the 1st inning, an were leading 4-3 going into the 9th.  A 2-run homer in the top of the 9th gave Los Gigantes the win.  

 
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Cardenales de Lara  6,  Tiburones de La Guaira  3  --  Former Indy Indian (2008) TJ Beam made his Venezuelan League debut for Los Tiburones, but it was not a happy start.  He faced 4 batters and allowed 2 singles and 2 walks, with one run scoring before he was relieved.  A wild pitch by his relief and a double gave Lara 4 runs in the top of the 1st.  They added single runs in the 7th and 9th innings.  Los Tiburones cut the early lead in half with 2 runs in the 3rd.  Then in the bottom of the 8th, Los Tiburones homered off Lara's reliever Romulo Sanchez, who gave up 2 walks after the homer.  

Caribes de Anzoategui  7,  Tigres de Aragua  3  (Game 1) --  Los Caribes scored 5 runs in their last two at-bats for the come-from-behind win.  In the 5th, a single, a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch, and a walk put Caribes on the corners.  LF Jose Tabata reached base on a throwing error, which allowed the runner on third to score.  A double drove in two more runs (including Tabata).  The 6th inning began with a pair of walks and a triple brought those runners across the plate.  Tabata also singled in the 1st inning, when Los Caribes scored one run, but he was out at third base.  Los Caribes also scored a run in the 2nd.  Los Tigres began the game with a 2-run homer in the top of the 1st, and they added another run on a walk and a double in the 5th.  1B Hector Gimenez singled for Aragua after the home run in the 1st.  SS Ronny Cedeno and CF Jorge Cortes were both hitless in the first game of the double header.  

Caribes  5,  Tigres  0  (Game 2)  --  Cedeno, Cortes, and Gimenez were all hitless in the night-cap, as Los Tigres were held to just 3 hits.  Los Caribes scored 3 runs in the 1st and 2 more in the 2nd.  Tabata did not get into the game.  
 

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Sunday's winter league action...
The Dominican League's last regular season games will be on Tuesday. 

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE 
Tigres de Aragua  8,  Leones de Caracas  3  (Game 1) --  Los Tigres won this battle of the big cats with a 6-run 3rd inning.  CF Jorge Cortes led off the inning with a single, was bunted to second base, and scored on an RBI single.  SS Ronny Cedeno lined out, but the next two batters singled, driving in a run.  1B Hector Gimenez was hit by a pitch, then LF Lastings Milledge brought in two runs with his RBI single.  A triple added two more runs.  Cortes walked in his second at-bat in the inning, but a fly out ended the rally.  Los Tigres added another run in the 5th on a single, Gimenez's ground rule double, and Milledge's sacrifice fly -- his third RBI of the game.  Milledge singled again in a rally in the 7th, when Aragua slipped in their 8th run.  Caracas did all their scoring in the bottom of the 7th, leading off the inning with two singles and a 3-run homer.  

Tigres  6,  Leones  5  (Game 2)  --  It was Cortes who had 3 hits in the night-cap, while Cedeno, Gimenez, and C Raul Chavez were hitless.  Wil Ledezma made the start for Los Tigres, and pitched 2 innings, allowing a run in the 1st.  Aragua tied the score in the 2nd with a walk, a single by Milledge, and an RBI single by Cortes.  Ledezma was relieved to begin the 3rd, and that was when Caracas scored 2 more runs on a walk, a single, and a triple.  Another triple and a sacrifice fly gave Los Leones a 4-1 lead in the 5th.  Los Tigres came roaring back in the top of the 6th, to take the lead.  The inning began with 3 consecutive walks, including on Milledge and Gimenez.  A triple cleared the bases, then Cortes' double gave Aragua a 5-4 lead.  Another single and a walk loaded the bases for Aragua, but a double play ended the inning and the rally.  Caracas tied the score again in the bottom of the 7th, sending the game into extra innings.  Jose Ascanio took the mound for Caracas in the top of the 7th, when he retired the side in order.  In the bottom of the 8th, pinch-hitter Miguel Perez led off with a single, and Cortes bunted him to second base.  A single drove in the speedy Perez from second base with the go-ahead run.

Navegantes del Magallanes  8,  Tiburones de La Guaira  2  --  Los Tiburones had the early lead, but Los Navegantes scored 7 of their runs in the final three innings, including a 4-run 8th.  Jean Machi earned his 7th save with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit.

Caribes de Anzoategui  8,  Cardenales de Lara  7  (Game 1)  --  Six runs in the 2nd inning gave Los Caribes enough runs to outlast Lara's late-inning rallies.  DH Jose Tabata singled and scored on a 2-run homer in the top of the 1st.  Los Cardenales got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning, but Los Caribes had their big 2nd inning.  With one out, a walk and four straight singles, including Tabata's second single, brought in two runs, then a grand slam by LF Juan Camacho gave Los Caribes an 8-1 lead.  

Caribes  4,  Cardenales  2  (Game 2) --  Four runs in the 6th inning gave Los Caribes what they needed.  The inning began with a double and a single, then Jose Tabata lined another single into center field, bringing in one run.  Three more singles and a sacrifice fly added 3 more runs.  Los Cardenales scored one run in the 2nd on a walk, a single, and an RBI ground out.  A double, a wild pitch, and a single gave Lara their second run in the 4th.  CF Ray Sadler went 0-for-3 for Lara.

Lots of Pirates and former Pirates pitching in Friday's winter league action... This is the last week of regular season play for the Dominican and Puerto Rican leagues.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui  8,  Tiburones de La Guaira  5  -- (Game 1) A 5-run 6th inning gave Los Caribes the edge in the first game of the double header.  Los Caribes started the game with 3 runs in the top of the 1st, on a single, a walk by DH Jose Tabata, and a 3-run homer.  The 6th inning began with a double, a hit batter, and a walk to load the bases.  Two sacrifice flies, an RBI single, and a sacrifice bunt aided by a throwing error by Los Tiburones' pitcher added four more runs.  Tabata also singled in the inning.  La Guaira scored 2 runs in the 4th and rallied for 3 in the bottom of the 7th, but could not catch up.

Tiburones   9,  Caribes  2  -- (Game 2)  Ryan Vogelsong earned his 6th win for Los Tiburones.  He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk over 6 innings.  Tabata did not get into the night-cap.

Leones de Caracas  6,  Aguilas de Zulia  2  --  Another former Pirate pitcher earned the win --  Ronald Uviedo also pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 runs.  He gave up 8 hits and a walk.  Los Leones scored one run in the 1st, two in the 2nd, and 3 in the 5th.  C Carlos Maldonado singled twice and walked, and scored one run.  

Bravos de Margarita  9,  Cardenales de Lara  --  Both teams put up big innings and posted a total of 12 hits each.  Lara had a 5-run 3rd inning, which began with CF Ray Sadler  being hit by a pitch.  Three singles and a throwing error brought in 2 runs, a sacrifice fly plated a third run, and a 2-run homer made it 5 runs.  Three consecutive doubles, including one by Sadler, plus a sacrifice fly gave Los Cardenales 3 runs in the 4th.  Los Bravos began their scoring with a run in the 2nd, then 3 runs in the 3rd on three singles, an error, and a wild pitch.  They added 4 more in the next inning, on three singles and three walks.  After the bottom of the 4th, the score was tied at 8-8.  Los Bravos scored what would turn out to be the winning run in the top of the 5th, on a walk, a double, and an RBI ground out.  Romulo Sanchez pitched to three batters and got three outs in the top of the 9th for Los Cardenales.  Anthony Claggett took the mound for Los Bravos in the bottom of the 6th, with two on and one out.  He got two outs to end the inning, then pitched the next two innings, allowing only one walk, no hits, with three strikeouts.  Ronald Belisario earned his 14th save with a scoreless 9th inning for Los Bravos.  

Tigres de Aragua  7,  Navegantes del Magallanes  5  --  New Pirate Fernando Nieve made the start for Los Navegantes and pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks.  A double and an RBI single by CF Jorge Cortes gave Los Tigres their first run in the 2nd inning.  Nieve gave up a 2-run homer to 1B Hector Gimenez in the 3rd inning.  Gimenez got to him again in the 5th, with an RBI single that followed a lead-off double.  Los Tigres scored 3 more runs after Nieve departed.  Cortes walked to lead off the 6th, then scored on a bunt and an RBI single.  Two runs scored in the 7th.  A double, Gimenez's third hit of the game, a wild pitch, and LF Lasting Milledge's sacrifice fly plated the runs.  Los Navegantes also scored one run in the 2nd inning, when LF Mike Ryan led off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error.  Magallanes scored 3 runs in the 5th, on a pair of singles, a double, and a fielding error by Milledge.  Reliever Wil Ledezma took the mound in relief for Aragua after those three runs had scored, and he worked around another error to get two outs and prevent further runs from scoring.  

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Tuesday's winter league action:

VENZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua  12,  Tiburones de La Guaira  2  --   Los Tigres posted 12 runs on 12 hits, including a 4-run 6th inning and a 6-run 7th inning.  They began their scoring with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 1st.  Then LF Lastings Milledge added another 2-run homer following 1B Hector Gimenez's walk to lead off the 6th.  CF Jorge Cortes walked moments later, and a single and an intentional walk loaded the bases, and two runs came in on a double.  The 7th inning rally got started with four singles (one by Cortes) and three doubles, and along with an RBI ground out by Gimenez, 6 runs crossed the plate.  Los Tiburones scored one run in the 5th and one in the 9th.  Milledge and Gimenez each walked once, and Cortes walked twice.  

Caribes de Anzoategui  8,  Bravos de Margarita  3  --  DH Jose Tabata scored twice as Los Caribes scored in 4 consecutive innings.  A 2-run homer scored in the 2nd.  A walk by Tabata and three singles added two runs in the 3rd, and a double and a single plated one run in the 4th.  Tabata led off the bottom of the 5th with a solo homer, and a single and a pair of doubles brought in two more runs in that inning.  

Leones del Caracas  7,  Navegantes del Magallanes  6  --  This one took 11 innings, with Los Leones manufacturing the winning run in the bottom of the 11th.  The lead-off batter singled, and a bunt moved him to second.  A single by SS Asdrubal Cabrera nearly won the game, but the runner was tagged out at the plate.  Then CF Josh Kroeger lined a single up the middle, and this time the throw to the plate was not in time.  LF Mike Ryan led off the 4th inning with a triple for Los Navegantes, and he scored on a sacrifice fly.  Corey Hamman pitched to one batter (Kroeger) in the 7th and got a fly out, but his wild pitch allowed Cabrera to score from third base to tie the score at 5-5.  Each team scored a run in the 9th.  Jose Ascanio pitched the top of the 9th for Los Leones, and he gave up a run on a double, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly, giving Caracas the lead again.  Jean Machi pitched 2 innings of relief.  He gave up the homer to Kroeger in the bottom of the 9th, which sent the game in to extras with a 6-6 tie, then retired the side in order in the 10th.  

The Dominican and Puerto Rican All-Star squads faced off this evening (Sunday), and a four of the Pirates' former players and friends were involved, all on the Puerto Rican team:

Puerto Rican All-Stars  4,  Dominican All-Stars  3
The Puerto Ricans and Dominicans put runners on base in the first three innings, but couldn't get any of them around to score.  The Puerto Ricans finally got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 4th.  Two singles and a ground out put two runners into scoring position.  Former Indy Indian (2007) LF Luis Matos reached base on a throwing error at short, and both runners came in to score.  A double brought in Matos to give the Puerto Ricans a 3-0 lead.  The Dominicans came right back to tie the game in the top of the 5th.  A double and a single plated one run, and a 2-run homer by 3B Victor Mercedes made it a 3-3 tie.  The Puerto Ricans scratched out another run in the bottom of the 7th.  A single, the third error by the Dominican shortstop, a ground out, and an RBI single gave the Puerto Ricans the lead.  Former Pirate farmhand RJ Rodriguez pitched the top of the 8th for the Puerto Ricans.  He struck out the first two batters of the inning, then finished it with a fly out.  Former Indy Indian (2004) SS Luis Figueroa singled for Puerto Rico in the 1st inning, but didn't score.  Former Pirate 3B Ramon Vazquez doubled in the 2nd, and also did not score.


MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Aguilas de Mexicali  2,  Venados de Mazatlan  1 --  A pair of singles around a sacrifice bunt gave Los Aguilas the first run of the game in the top of the 1st, and they repeated the trick for another run in the 6th.  Two singles and a throwing error brought in Los Venados' only run in the 7th.  RF Rogelios Noris singled in the 8th for Los Venados but was left on base.  His fellow Pirate farmhand Matt Hague came in to play first base for Mexicali in the 8th, but did not get a plate appearance.  

Cheering for some Pirates' players and friends in Friday's winter league action:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Leones del Caracas  6,  Tigres de Aragua  4  --  Caracas won this battle of the Big Cats.  Los Leones scored first with a solo homer in the top of the 1st.  Los Tigres tied it up in the 2nd inning.  Two singles, including one by 1B Hector Gimenez, and a throwing error put runners on second and third bases.  LF  Lastings Milledge drove in the run with a ground out to third.  Caracas took the lead again in the top of the 3rd, with a walk, a ground out, and an RBI single.  The batter was out at second as he tried to advance on the throw to the plate:  CF Jorge Cortes to C Raul Chavez to SS Ronny Cedeno, who tagged the runner out.  Aragua took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 3rd, with a 3-run homer, after Chavez reached on a fielding error, a single, and Cedeno's sacrifice bunt.  But Los Leones came right back with their own homer for 2 runs in the top of the 4th, then took the lead with another run on two singles.  They added an insurance run in the top of the 9th, on two singles and a throwing error.  Los Tigres did not score again, though Milledge singled in the 4th, Cedeno singled in the 5th, and Cortes singled in the 7th.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Gigantes de Carolina  8,  Criollos de Caguas  3  --  Los Criollos managed only 5 hits, and two of those were by SS Luis Figueroa.  Figueroa singled in the 3rd, and along with two more singles and two walks, Los Criollos scored 2 runs.  Figueroa also reached on an error in the 4th, and that allowed Los Criollos' remaining run to score.  He also singled in the 9th.  3B Ramon Vazquez went 0-for-4 for Caguas.  Los Gigantes scored 2 runs in the 2nd and 4th innings, then added 4 runs in the 7th inning.   



DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas  10,  Tigres del Licey  3  --  Los Tigres posted 10 hits but left 11 runners on base, scoring only 3 times.  Licey scored a run in the 3rd on two singles and a sacrifice fly.  LF Jake Fox and two others singled in the 7th, and one run scored when C Robinzon Diaz bounced into a double play.  A single and a double gave Los Tigres their last run in the 8th.  Diaz singled for Los Tigres in the 2nd inning, but DH Ronny Paulino (who just signed a contract with the Mets) went 0-for-3 with a walk.  Los Aguilas put up their first run in the 4th, tying the game on two singles, a walk, and a wild pitch.  Then they put the game out of reach with 4 runs in the 6th and 3 runs in the 7th.  Denny Bautista came on to pitch for Licey in the 7th, and he gave up a walk and a 2-RBI double.  Starling Marte scored one of those runs, since he had just come in to pinch-run.  Marte remained in the game to play right field.  He batted again in the 9th, and reached base on a fielding error, though was out on a force play at second.  A walk and a single brought in two more Aguilas' runs in the 9th.  LF Kevin Melillo went 0-for-3 for Los Aguilas.    

The MLB Winter Meetings are over.... back to the winter league action, as we cheer on some new Pirates' players.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Leones del Escogido  3,  Tigres del Licey  0  --  New Pirate Caesar Valdez (just acquired from the Diamondbacks as the player-to-be-named-later in the Zach Duke trade) made his 8th start for Licey, but did not get out of the 3rd inning as he suffered his 2nd loss of the season.  Valdez had no trouble in his first inning of work, then gave up a solo home run in the 2nd inning.  He put out the first two batters in the 3rd inning, then gave up three consecutive singles for a run, plus a walk.  Valdez was relieved at that point, with no more runs scoring in the inning.  Los Leones did score one more run in the 5th.  Los Tigres were held to just 4 hits, including one by Indy area native 1B Jake Fox.  3B Andy Marte and C Robinzon Diaz were both hitless in the game.


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Bravos de Margarita  5,  Cardenales de Lara  4  --  Los Cardenales tied the score at 4-4 in the top of the 8th on a pair of doubles.  The winning run scored in the bottom of the 9th, when two walks and a hit batter put three Bravos on base.  Another walk forced in the winning run.  Romulo Sanchez pitched to 4 Margarita batters and made 4 outs, finishing the 6th inning for Lara and then pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th.  Jhonathan Ramos pitched a scoreless 6th inning for Margarita.  He allowed a double and a walk, with 2 strikeouts. 

Tigres de Aragua  6,  Navegantes de Magallanes  4  --  A game full of Pirates.  Los Tigres posted a pair of 2-run homers in the 5th inning, on their way to 13 total hits.  Every member of the lineup except for C Raul Chavez had at least one hit.  SS Ronny Cedeno, 1B Hector Gimenez, LF Lastings Milledge, and CF Jorge Cortes each had one run.  Wil Ledezma pitched one inning for Los Tigres.  He entered the game in the 7th inning, and was responsible for one run on a solo homer.  Then he began the 8th inning, when he allowed two more runs to score.  Corey Hamman pitched in the top of the 9th for Los Navegantes.  He gave up a single and a pair of intentional walks, but ended the inning and the game without any of those runners scoring.  

Tiburones de La Guaira  5,  Caribes de Anzoategui   3  --  In his second Venezuelan League game, LF Jose Tabata walked and singled for Los Caribes.  He singled in the bottom of the 1st, moving another runner to third base, and that runner came around to score, for 2 runs in the 1st.  Los Tiburones tied the score with 2 runs in the 3rd inning.  They took the lead with a run in the 6th, and Los Caribes tied the score again in the bottom of the 7th, on a walk and two singles.  The game went into extras, and in the top of the 10th, Los Tiburones scored the winning and insurance runs on a 2-run homer.  

MLB's winter meetings begin tomorrow (Monday).  Stay tuned for news of trades, moves, shifts, Rule 5 draft, etc.  
A few of Sunday's winter league games with Pirates' players and friends participating:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Cardenales de Lara  3,  Bravos de Margarita 1  --  Anthony Claggett pitched 4 innings in his start for Los Bravos, and allowed one unearned run on a hit and a walk in the night-cap of a double-header.  The run came in the bottom of the 1st, when a single and a throwing error at third base put the lead-off runner on second base.  A sacrifice bunt and an RBI ground out brought in the unearned run.  After a walk, Claggett retired 10 of the 11 remaining batters he faced -- he hit one batter with a pitch.  Los Bravos scored their run in the top of the 1st, on a double, a bunt, and a sacrifice fly.  Claggett left the game with the score tied.  He was relieved by Edgar Martinez, who began the bottom of the 5th by allowing a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a 2-run homer, which gave Lara the win.  

Aguilas de Zulia  6,  Tigres de Aragua  1  --  SS Ronny Cedeno and CF Lastings Milledge each had a single in the 8th inning, and Milledge also walked in the 4th, but neither came around to score in Los Tigres' loss.  Aragua's only run was scored in the top of the 9th, on a triple and an RBI single.  Zulia scored their 6 runs on 13 hits, scattered over 5 of their 8 at-bats.  C Raul Chavez, C Miguel Perez, and pinch-hitter Jorge Cortes were all hitless for Los Tigres.  

Leones del Caracas   8,  Navegantes del Magallanes  4  --  Corey Hamman pitched a scoreless inning for Los  Navegantes in their loss.  Caracas had already scored 2 runs in each of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th innings, and Los Navegantes had scored a pair of runs on a 2-run homer in the 4th and one more run in the 7th on a double, a single, and an RBI ground out.  The first batter in the top of the 8th was hit by a pitch, and Hamman entered the game with that runner on first base.  He gave up a walk but retired three batters to get out of the inning without allowing a run to score.  Los Navegantes scored one more run in the bottom of the 9th on a hit batter and two singles, but it wasn't enough.

Looking in on Pirates' players and friends in Saturday's winter league action:

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Estrellas de Oriente  6,  Tigres del Licey  3   --  Los Tigres posted only 5 hits, but they also hurt themselves by committing 4 errors.  They scored all of their runs in the 3rd inning on a 3-run homer.  DH Ronny Paulino, C Robinzon Diaz, and 1B Jake Fox were all hitless for Los Tigres.  Los Estrellas took advantage of the errors to score 2 runs in each of the 1st, 5th, and 8th innings.  Half of their runs were unearned.

Gigantes del Cibao  7,  Leones del Escogido  3  --  Mike Dubee earned his third Dominican League win for Los Gigantes.  Dubee entered the game in the top of the 5th inning, with Los Gigantes leading 3-2, two runners on base, and two outs.  The first batter he faced reached base on a fielding error at third base, allowing the tying run to score.  The next batter singled up the middle, but the throw in from center field let C JR House tag the lead runner out at the plate to end the inning.  House was the lead-off batter in Los Gigantes' half of the inning, and he began a rally with a single into center field.  A sacrifice bunt and a single brought in House with the go-ahead run, and another single and an RBI ground out gave Dubee and Los Gigantes an insurance run.  Dubee pitched a scoreless 6th inning, and then was relieved.  Los Gigantes added 2 more runs in the 8th on two singles, a walk, and a fielding error.  




PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  2,  Leones de Ponce  0  --  The Caguas pitchers allowed only 4 Ponce hitters to reach base, on three singles and a double scattered throughout the game, and two of the base runners were erased with double plays.  Los Criollos scored their first run in the 4th, when 3B Ramon Vazquez led off with a walk, and scored on a single and an RBI double.  A triple and an RBI single gave them another run in the 7th, and that was all they needed.   

A few signing notes for some former Pirates -- LHP Phil Dumatrait has signed a minor league contract with the Twins, and LHP Neal Cotts has signed a minor league contract with the Yankees.  OF Rajai Davis was traded from the A's to the Blue Jays.  

Sunday's winter league action involving a few Pirates' players and friends:

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas  12,  Tigres del Licey  1 --  A 6-run 1st inning put the game into Los Aguilas' pocket right from the start.  Starling Marte came into the game in the 5th inning as a pinch runner (he didn't score), then remained in the game in left field.  He flied out in the 7th, then hit an RBI single in the 8th.  Denny Bautista was one of the few Licey pitchers who held Los Aguilas scoreless, as he threw a perfect top of the 9th for Los Tigres.  Indy area native Jake Fox went 0-for-4 for Los Tigres.


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tiburones de La Guaira  6,  Tigres de Aragua  2 --  Los Tiburones scored 5 runs over the first 3 innings, and Los Tigres could only manage 2 runs.  In the top of the 1st, SS Ronny Cedeno followed a lead-off single with a sacrifice bunt, then another single brought in the first Aragua run.  Their second run came in the 6th inning, when Cedeno led off with a double into left field, and a few minutes later, 1B Hector Gimenez doubled into right field, bringing in Cedeno.  C Miguel Perez came in as a defensive replacement behind the plate, but flied out in his only plate appearance.  CF Jorge Cortes went 0-for-3 with a walk.  Former Pirate pitcher Chris Hernandez pitched the top of the 9th for La Guaira.  He gave up a walk, but then got Cortes to bounce into a double play to end the game.  

Cardenales de Lara  7,  Navegantes del Magallanes  2  --  Los Navegantes were also only able to put up 2 runs, one in the 2nd, and one in the 7th.  SS Argenis Diaz contributed one of Los Navegantes' 5 hits, but he did not score.  Corey Hamman pitched the 7th inning for Magallanes, and he gave up a solo home run.

Bravos de Margarita  2,  Aguilas de Zulia  1 --  Anthony Claggett won his second game in two days for Los Bravos, this time with one scoreless inning of work (it was 1.1 innings yesterday).  Los Bravos scored one run in the bottom of the 4th on a double, a single, and a grounder.  Los Aguilas tied the score in the top of the 6th, also with a single and a double.  Claggett took the mound to begin the 7th.  He gave up a lead-off single, then retired the next three batters he faced.  In the bottom of the inning, Los Bravos scored the go-ahead run on a single, a bunt, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly.  That made Claggett the pitcher of record.  Ronald Belisario pitched a perfect 9th inning for Margarita to collect his 10th save of the season.  

Looking in on the Pirates' players and friends in Saturday's winter league action...

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  2,  Gigantes de Carolina  1  --  A low-hitting game, and Caguas scored their 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th on two singles and some mistakes by Los Gigantes.  With the first two batters on base, SS Luis Figueroa bunted both into scoring position.  That put the runner on third base in position to score on a wild pitch.  Ramon Vazquez reached base on a fielding error at second base, which let the second run score.  Another wild pitch and a walk put two runners on base again, but no more runs scored.  Los Criollos also loaded the bases in the 3rd, on singles by Figueroa and Vazquez and a walk, and a walk and two more singles loaded the bases in the 6th, but both times the bases were left loaded.  Vazquez also walked in the 1st inning.   Los Gigantes' only run came in the 5th, on a single, a double by Luis Matos, and a sacrifice fly.  
 

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Navegantes del Magallanes  4,  Tigres de Aragua  0 -- Los Tigres could not score despite 7 hits and 2 walks.  RF Alex Romero had 3 of those 7 hits, and 1B Hector Gimenez had a single.  SS Ronny Cedeno, CF Jorge Cortes, and C Raul Chavez were all hitless in the game.  Los Navegantes scored all 4 of their runs in the top of the 2nd, on a solo homer, followed by four singles.  Corey Hamman pitched to one batter in the 6th, and gave up a single.  Two more walks loaded the bases for Magallanes, but the runners were left stranded.  Jean Machi pitched the 9th inning for Magallanes and gave up the single to Gimenez, but a double play erased Gimenez and ended the game.

Bravos de Margarita  6,  Aguilas del Zulia  4 --  Anthony Claggett earned his first Venezuelan League win with 1.1 scoreless innings for Margarita.  Los Bravos scored first, with a run in the bottom of the 1st, and Los Aguilas tied the score with one run in the top of the 2nd.  Zulia scored 2 more runs in the top of the 3rd on two walks and three singles, and Claggett was brought into the game with 2 runs in, one out, and the bases loaded.  he faced just one batter, and got the double play to end the inning.  Los Bravos' batters responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th, on 4 singles, a walk, and a bases-clearing 3-RBI double.  That gave Los Bravos the lead, which they would not give up, and Claggett was the pitcher of record.  He began the top of the 4th with two outs, then a throwing error and a single put two runners on for Los Aguilas. Claggett was relieved at that point, but those runners did not score.  Ronald Belisario earned his 9th save for Margarita.